Seventh Slayer of Acroniya

At the time Andeer completed his task, Zellto regained consciousness.

He sat up abruptly, then halted, his gaze falling upon his beast, Arcian, standing beside him. Arcian was covered in blood. Initially, Zellto was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend the situation.

After a few moments, his confusion shattered, replaced by a cry of anguish as he realized his beast had sacrificed its own blood for Zellto's recovery. He assessed the situation, checking Arcian's condition while estimating the time. His expression hardened with each passing second, his grip weakening as he began to lose strength. He collapsed.

Never before had he felt such helplessness. With a Herculean effort, Zellto struggled to his feet, but remained motionless, his voice trembling, "Don't worry, my friend. I will avenge you. But..." He paused, his gaze fixed on his bandaged beast, "...but wait a little longer. I will save you first, and then we will avenge them together."

Zellto carefully wrapped Arcian's body to staunch the bleeding. Before he could attempt to move his beast, the remaining Kazos arrived.

One of the Kazos rushed towards Zellto, examining his condition. Satisfied, they allowed him to proceed. However, Zellto felt a desperate urgency, every second precious.

One of the Kazos' eyes lingered on the tightly wrapped bundle. Curiosity piqued, he inquired about its contents.

Zellto explained that it was his beast, who had sacrificed its blood to heal him quickly and counteract the effects of the Razor Fang's venom. One of the Kazos questioned, "Why didn't you use the blue vile?" Before he could finish, another Kazo sharply rebuked him, "Questions can wait." He turned to the Vice Commander, "Vice Commander, what is our next course of action?"

Zellto pondered briefly, then requested a communicator from one of the Kazos. The Kazo produced a circular golden box and handed it to Zellto. Zellto pricked his finger with a needle, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the device. Golden lines appeared on the device in response. Zellto transmitted his message, the golden lines undulating like waves.

Meanwhile, deep within Dentor Valley...

Half of the mission was complete. A soldier carrying a circular golden box raced towards Leo's camp. Upon receiving the message, Leo opened a golden map, searching for a specific location.

After a few moments, he found it. Confusion still clouded his features, but he relayed the message to the soldier. As the soldier departed, Leo muttered, "Why does he need information about that, and..." He paused, then continued, "Let it be.

I have crucial tasks to complete." He looked out at his exhausted soldiers, both physically and mentally. He felt a pang of dissatisfaction, "Just a little longer, Julicious. We will arrive soon."

*Meanwhile, this was happening. On the battlefield, Andeer lay unconscious on the ground. He was alone, a calm smile gracing his face.

Nearly 3 to 4 kilometers away, a group of soldiers marched in the opposite direction of the recent battle. Their leader glanced towards the battlefield. One soldier voiced his disappointment, "We can't go back."

He continued, pausing briefly, "We..." but his sentence was abruptly cut short as the beast they were riding came to an unexpected halt. Searching for the cause, he discovered that Ilar's beast had stopped in its tracks.

Ilar's expression turned grave. Without a word, he dismounted. Unfolding a golden page that glowed with an ethereal light, he urged his beast forward, shouting towards the battlefield, "I will be back soon. Follow the plan and proceed directly to Royal Captain Acerneal."

Before anyone could question him, Ilar vanished. Confusion reigned, yet they pressed on. One soldier stepped forward, introducing himself, "My name is Arwell. I will lead you in our superiors' absence." Acknowledging his skill and second-in-command status, everyone nodded in agreement.

Ilar pushed himself to his limits. After traveling approximately 1.5 kilometers, he consulted the Golden Page again, noting its continued glow. Relief mingled with apprehension on his face. Mounting his beast, he urged it forward, his voice laced with urgency and tension, "Please hold on, Captain... Just a bit longer."

Despite their injuries, the warriors persevered. This indomitable spirit significantly reduced casualties, though many regions remained without aid.

In the outskirts of Acroniya...

Fear and helplessness gripped the people. "Mama, why are we hiding...?" the girl's mother attempted to comfort her, "We're just playing hide-and-seek, sweetheart. Just wait a little longer..." "Okay, Mama. That means Father is searching for us..." she replied, her eyes sparkling with joy. She tried to stand, murmuring, "I will give Father a hint."

Before anyone could comprehend her actions, she stood motionless, frozen in place. The sight that met her three-year-old eyes would have terrified an adult. Scattered limbs, splatters of blood, flames – and their source: the bloodthirsty beasts.

Beasts with eyes hanging precariously in their sockets and half-melted flesh overwhelmed the little girl. With a shriek, she collapsed, her gaze falling upon an arm that eerily resembled her father's.

Her scream alerted the hidden people, and also drew the attention of the beasts. One beast unleashed a destructive cannon blast towards her. Terror and the specter of death gripped her. As the beam hurtled towards her, a hand pulled her down at the last moment. The blast narrowly missed its target, incinerating only a few strands of her hair. A deafening explosion erupted, engulfing the area.